"I fancied I was dead," he said.
"By Heaven!" John Davis remarked, "It was a close shave."
"Is Captain Melendez still alive?"
"Yes."
"What state is he in?"
"No worse than your own."
"All the better."
"Shall we hang him?" Ruperto remarked, still adhering to his notion.
The Jaguar started, frowned, and then shouted with greater strength than he might be supposed to possess—
"On your life, not a hair of his head must fall; you answer for him to me body for body."